Costa Rica coach fined for insulting remarks
July 22 – Costa Rica head coach Jorge Luis Pinto (pictured) has been fined $5,000 by CONCACAF and warned about his future conduct following remarks he made during the Gold Cup.
Concacaf
CONCACAF acts swiftly as Belize players report bribery attempt
July 12 – Football’s global match-fixing scourge, regarded as the biggest threat to the integrity of the sport, has now struck at the heart of CONCACAF with the confederation confirming that two Belize players were offered bribes to throw their opening match of the Gold Cup, the region’s blue riband event, against the United States.
CFU Under-20 women kick off qualifiers for place in Puerto Rico finals
July 11 – The qualifiers for The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Under-20 Qualifiers Tournament kicked off this week with the Dominican Republic losing 3-0 to Trinidad and Tobago at home.
Canadian Twitter threat leads to police investigation
By Andrew Warshaw
July 11 – Canadian police are investigating death threats sent on Twitter to the captain of one of the country’s leading clubs, Montreal Impact, which plays in the MLS. Midfielder Davy Arnaud is reported to have received threatening tweets after making a mistake that led to his team losing 4-3 at home to the Colorado Rapids in stoppage time.
CONCACAF calls for return to rotation and for the World Cup in 2026
By Andrew Warshaw
July 10 – CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb is targeting the 2026 World Cup after the United States missed out on hosting the event in 2022 when beaten to the punch by Qatar. Webb is hopeful he can harness enough support for the World Cup to be staged in his region for the first time since the USA hosted in 1994.
New page turns as CONCACAF starts its Gold Cup party
By Paul Nicholson in Los Angeles
July 7 – It could become a football quiz question. Which is the only confederation in world football where every country has a beach? The answer is CONCACAF, the confederation that covers north and central America and the Caribbean.
CONCACAF unveils Embrace Diversity anti-racism and discrimination campaign
July 8 – A new initiative to promote integration and social awareness was unveiled by CONCACAF prior to the Gold Cup’s first game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena — a direct follow-up to Fifa’s Anti-racism and Discrimination campaign approved at its recent congress in Mauritius.
Gold Cup opens with a Mariachi world record and a Mexican stand-off
By Paul Nicholson in Pasadena
July 8 – CONCACAF’s blue riband event the Gold Cup opened here yesterday with a double-header in the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California – both upsets as Canada lost to tiny Martinique and Mexico were edged out by Panama – plus a new world record for the largest ever Mariachi serenade with over 500 performers taking to the field at half-time.
Broadcasters and Sponsors Line up for Concacaf Gold Cup
By Mark Baber
July 5 – The 12th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off on Sunday at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in California as 12 nations from the confederation that covers North, Central America and the Caribbean compete for the region’s greatest prize culminating on July 28 at Chicago’s Soldier Field.
Cayman Islands pick up CONCACAF U-20 women’s event
June 21 – CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb, who has done much to stabilise the region since taking over a year ago, will be more delighted than anyone at the organisation’s decision to stage next year’s CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 tournament in his native Cayman Islands.
Compeán says Caribbean still main challenge for new regime
By Paul Nicholson in Rio de Janeiro
June 19 – Justino Compeán, Mexican vice-president of Concacaf, says the biggest challenge facing his confederation still lies in the Caribbean – two years after the cash-for-votes scandal that rocked CONCACAF to the core. But, he says, the organisation is in safer hands than ever under its increasingly influential president Jeffrey Webb.
Quebec turban ban reversed following FIFA clarification
By Mark Baber
June 17 – A dispute in French-speaking Quebec over whether to allow male footballers to wear turbans appears to have been resolved after Fifa clarified the rules and the suspension of Quebec from the Canadian Soccer Association was lifted.
Chevy in cruise control as it adds US Soccer to portfolio alongside Man Utd
By Mark Baber
June 13 – The United States Soccer Federation and Chevrolet announced a three-year sponsorship deal on Monday which makes Chevrolet the Official Partner of U.S. Soccer for the next three years.
Quebec Soccer suspended over refusal to lift turban ban
By Mark Baber
June 12 – The Quebec Soccer Federation has been suspended by the Canadian Soccer Association after failing to reverse its decision to ban the use of turbans/patkas/keski on the football pitch.
Iconic Cosmos announce Emirates deal and repeat MLS ambition
By Mark Baber
June 5 – New York Cosmos and its Honorary President Pelé have signed a kit and sponsorship deal with Emirates Airlines. The new deal awakens nostalgia for the 1970s, but the club has some major hurdles to overcome to add to its former glories.